If you owe a lot of money but are unable to pay it back, your creditor may be willing to forgive a part of your debt in return for a lump-sum payment. This is known as debt settlement.
Founded in 2002, Freedom Debt Relief is one of the country’s largest debt relief companies, but does that guarantee it’s a good service to use?
Read out our detailed Freedom Debt Relief walkthrough on its Process, Accreditation, Fees, Savings, and Reviews.
Freedom Debt Relief and similar companies deal with your creditors on your behalf to settle your debt for a lower sum.
According to the firm, it has settled $10 billion in debt since its inception and resolves approximately 43,891 accounts per month.
The idea of debt settlement may seem incredible, but it can leave a mark on your credit record and take anywhere between 24 –48 months. The IRS normally taxes any amount forgiven as income.
That is why it is important to be aware of the risks ahead of time and if you decide to use a negotiating service, choose a trustworthy provider.
Summary
| Portal | Freedom Debt Relief |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Minimum Debt Settlement Requirement | $15000 |
| Fees | 15% to 25% of the settled debt |
| Features | No upfront fees, free one-hour consultation, and Consultant’s assistance. |
| Number of reviews | 3013 |
| Community Rating | Strong |
| Website | Click Here |
Key Takeaways
- Freedom Debt Relief offers debt settlement programs for fees ranging from 15-25% of the settled debt amount.
- They offer support in Spanish too.
- You need to have at least $7,500 in debt to be eligible for their program.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No upfront fees
- 7 days phone support
- Reasonable fees of 15% to 25% of the settled debt
- The client dashboard makes tracking progress easy
- Provides Spanish resources and support
Cons
- Eligibility requires $7,500 in unsecured debt
- Not available in some states
- No live chat option
Also Read How Much Debt You Need To Have To File For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Our Take
Freedom Debt Relief offers a lot of information on its website about what it does and how it works.
We also like that it is a member of the American Fair Credit Council, which helps to ensure high customer service standards.
There are some risks associated with debt settlement, but Freedom Debt Relief seems to have a good understanding of what they are and how they can impact customers.
Freedom Debt Relief could be a good option if you have at least $7,500 in debt and struggle to make your minimum monthly payments.
Key Features
Freedom Debt Relief provides versatile debt settlement programs that make repaying unsecured debts more reasonable.
As a prominent service provider, the company doesn’t charge any upfront fees and provides a free one-hour consultation to determine if your situation qualifies for a settlement.
Like other debt settlement firms, Freedom Debt Relief has a team of consultants who can assist you going through your given situation to determine how debt settlement might help and whether it is the best answer for you.
Freedom Debt Relief will advise you on addressing any calls or letters about past-due payments, but it is important to note that you will stay legally accountable for your debts throughout the procedure.
Company Overview
What Is Freedom Debt Relief?
Freedom Debt Relief is a subsidiary of the Freedom Financial Network, a Phoenix, Arizona-based company founded in 2002.
The firm employs over 2,000 debt relief consultants and has assisted more than 600,000 clients settling more than $15 billion in debt.
Freedom Debt Relief is also among the American Fair Credit Council’s founding members.
Additionally, the firm is a platinum member of the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) (IAPDA).
Freedom Debt Relief provides debt relief services to clients throughout the majority of the United States.
The firm works in 37 states and charges an estimated 15-25% of the settled debt as a fee for debt settlement.
Freedom Debt Relief’s team is aware of the many solutions available to clients based on their situation.
Read: CuraDebt Review
Fees
Freedom is not allowed by law to collect upfront fees; instead, it charges fees based on a percentage of the amount you settle, typically between 15% and 25% of the settled debt.
According to Freedom Debt Relief, your costs will vary depending on the specifics of your circumstance and the state in which you reside.
For example, if Freedom Debt Relief was able to resolve $4,000 in debt on your behalf, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1,000 for the service provided.
Although the information on the actual amount of money you can expect to save if you choose Freedom Debt Relief isn’t available, the company suggests you could be able to settle your credit cards for half or less of what you owe.
Types of Debts Addressed
At least $7,500 in outstanding unsecured debt is required to use the services of Freedom Debt Relief.
Unsecured debts are not secured by collateral. Debt settlement for secured debts, such as auto loans or mortgages, is not available via Freedom Debt Relief.
The following are some examples of debts that this company can assist with.
Credit Card Debt
The majority of Freedom Debt Relief’s efforts are directed at assisting clients in negotiating and repaying credit card debt.
Given that the current average interest rate is 17.13 percent, it’s easy to understand how customers could get into problems and require help settling their debts (including interest and principal payments) for less than they owe.
Private Student Loans
Freedom Debt Relief also claims that it will assist in negotiating and settling private student loan debt in certain cases.
They do not, however, assist with federal student loans.
Medical Bills
Medical debt has become a massive problem in the United States, especially for those with health insurance.
Freedom Debt Relief negotiates medical debt for less than the entire cost with hospitals and medical providers.
Read Difference Between Debt Settlement And Debt Consolidation
How does Freedom Debt Relief work?
Freedom follows a standard procedure as with most debt settlement firms.
Once enrolled, you immediately cease making payments to your creditors. Instead, you form a separate savings account that you own and manage, and you deposit your monthly payments into it.
Freedom works with customers to set the amount to be placed into the dedicated savings account each month.
The firm determines the amount by your capacity to pay and the overall amount of enrolled debt.
If you stop making payments to creditors, you will become overdue on the accounts, incurring late fees and interest costs, and your credit score will suffer as a result.
Delinquent accounts stay on your credit records for seven years.
When the account reaches a certain amount of money, the firm starts negotiating with creditors on your behalf to persuade them to settle for less than the amount you owe.
The strategy is that creditors will be encouraged to accept the reduced amount rather than risk getting nothing at all after months of unpaid debt payments.
If a creditor accepts the smaller payment amount, you pay the creditor from your savings account, either in one single sum or in installments.
You must also pay Freedom Debt Relief a charge for its services.
Debt Relief Time
Most Freedom Debt Relief clients got their first settlement done within six months.
However, the time frame may vary from person to person, their loan amount, installment, etc. On average, the settlement duration could last from two-five years.
Savings
If you enroll yourself in Freedom Debt Relief’s program then you can expect to save 20%-35% including fees that you pay to the company.
Disadvantages Of Debt Relief
There are a few severe disadvantages that you must consider before opting for any debt relief company:
- Any forgiven debt amount which is more than $600 comes under taxable income, and thus, you will need to pay tax on it.
- Your creditors might not comply easily and maybe try to get in touch with you. However, you can always forward your call to your debt relief agent.
- Another very essential thing is that opting for debt relief will bring your credit score down considerably. So if you don’t want to ruin your credit score, then we suggest not to opt for any dent settlements.
What differentiates Freedom Debt Relief from others?
Here are the features that differentiate Freedom Debt Relief from others:
- It would help you to settle unsecured debts of yours
- There is a possibility that your credit card debts get settled for 50% less than what you actually owed
- You will be able to settle your debts within 2-4 through Freedom Debt Relief
Is Freedom Relief Legit?
Freedom Relief has been given an A+ rating by Better Bureau Business (BBB) and is also accredited by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators and the American Fair Credit Council.
Also, note that in 2013, Freedom Debt Relief settled a $5 million lawsuit concerning the complaints of misinforming customers, breaking government rules, and charging heft fees.
So before choosing any debt relief service, make sure to check its complaints.
Our experience with Freedom Debt Relief
Our reference says: The customer services at Freedom Debt Relief are quite amazing.
I don’t think that any other debt settlement company can resolve debt matters and guide you on how to settle them.
I got my debt settled through Freedom Debt Relief, and I would definitely give 5 stars to their services.
Freedom Debt Relief Comparison
| Company | Freedom Debt Relief | National Debt Relief |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 2010 |
| Minimum Debt Settlement Requirement | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| Features | No upfront fees, free one-hour consultation, and Consultant’s assistance. | Free debt consultation, no upfront fees, Renowned Company. |
| Fees | 15% to 25% of the Enrolled debt | 15% to 25% Of Enrolled Debt |
| Relief Time | 24-60 months | 24-48 months |
| Savings | 20%-35% including fees | 30% including fees |
| BBB rating | A+ | A+ |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.5 | 4.7 |
NPC Freedom Debt Relief Ratings
| Type | Rating |
| Customer Service | 4.5/5 |
| Responsive | 4.5/5 |
| Affordable | 4/5 |
| Debt Settlement help | 4.5/5 |
| Ease of use | 4.8/5 |
Customer Service
The Freedom Debt Relief website has a client portal to log in to your account, several online debt relief tools and resources, and a FAQ page.
It also provides services and information in Spanish on its website, which many of its competitors do not.
Unfortunately, it does not have a mobile app and does not provide live chat support.
Freedom Debt Relief provides customer service through phone or email at [email protected]
Customer support is available seven days a week, from 8 am to 9 pm on Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 8 pm on Friday, and 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
You can reach Certified Debt Consultants from 8 am to 11 pm Monday through Friday and from 9 am to 9 pm on weekends.
Existing clients can call Freedom Debt Relief at 1-800-655-6303, while others can contact the debt relief firm at 1-800-230-1553.
Customer Rating & Reviews
Freedom Debt Relief has received mostly positive feedback from thousands of clients who have left feedback on Trustpilot.
Many of the positive reviews mention how Freedom Debt Relief effectively got clients out of debt and how great the communication was.
However, a few negative reviews express dissatisfaction with having certain settlements with no discount involved and other credit impacts.
These are essentially the risks of any settlement firm and should be thoroughly discussed at the start of every agreement.
However, for the most part, Freedom Debt Relief has received excellent reviews for its customer service. And it has a rating of 4.5 out of 36,131 customer reviews.
How We Review Debt Relief Companies
Debt relief companies come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to do your research before choosing one.
While reviewing debt relief companies, we take an in-depth look at how each company works and what you can expect if you choose to work with them.
We also look at each company’s customer service and how they handle complaints.
Finally, we look at the fees charged by each company and how they compare to other companies in the industry.
Read Our Detailed Debt Relief Review Methodology
Final Verdict
Freedom Debt Relief is one of the best debt relief companies. It can help you with credit card debt, personal loans, etc.
They charge 15% to 25% of the enrolled debt amount, and you can save 20%-35% overall, including the fee.
However, to get started, you need to have a debt of $15,000. So if you owe debt less than $15,000, you can check out Accredited Debt Relief, one of our top-rated companies.
As opposed to Freedom Debt, Accredited Debt Relief requires you to have a minimum debt of $10,000 and can help you save the same amount of debt over 2-4 years.
You can check out our Accredited Debt Relief review to learn more about this company.
FAQ’s
What is Freedom Debt Relief?
Freedom Debt Relief is a company that helps people to settle their debts for a lower sum.
The company negotiates with creditors on behalf of the customer in order to get a settlement.
Is Freedom Debt Relief a good company to use?
It depends on your situation. Freedom Debt Relief has been in business for over a decade and has helped settle over $10 billion in debt.
They are also a member of the American Fair Credit Council, which helps to ensure high customer service standards.
How much does Freedom Debt Relief charge?
Fees vary depending on the amount of debt you have and how much Freedom Debt Relief is able to settle your debt.
Typically, the fees charged by Freedom Debt Relief are a percentage of the total debt settled.
Is Freedom Debt Relief Legit??
Over the course of 18 years, Freedom Debt Relief has settled $10 million in settled debt.
And also, it is a part of the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC), which gives us the assurance of its legitimacy.
What is the minimum total balance of Debt that I must have?
You will qualify for Freedom Debt Relief’s program if you have a minimum unsecured debt of $7500.
Shikha Rajani is a Content Writer & Editor at National Planning Cycles.
She is known for her Research & Proofreading Skills. After completing her graduation in Sociology, She started her career as a writer. During her college time, one of her most loved hobbies was writing. Eventually, She followed her passion & grew as a Content Writer. Before joining NPC, She used to write for magazines.